Leading Progressive Organizations, Unions Announce Major Campaign to Pass President Obama’s Historic
Rebuild and Renew America Now
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Funk, 202-470-5878
DATE: March 4th, 2009 Lauren Weiner, 202-470-5870
Leading Progressive Organizations, Unions Announce Major Campaign to Pass President Obama’s Historic Budget, a Blueprint for Rebuilding and Renewing America
Groups Which Led Fight to Pass Obama Jobs and Economic Recovery Package, and Many More, Launching National Campaign to Pass Most Historic and Transformative Blueprint for National Priorities in Generations
Washington D.C. – Leading progressive organizations and unions which led the fight to pass President Obama’s jobs and economic recovery package, along with a host of additional groups, held a national press conference call today to announce a major new campaign to pass President Obama’s historic budget. Participants discussed plans to substantially ratchet up all the same tools, techniques and strategies behind the successful campaign to pass the President’s jobs plan into law last month, from grassroots events, grass tops contacts, paid phones and emails campaigns into Members of Congress’ offices, and paid advertising. More than 40 major organizations have so far signed onto the $5-7 million campaign to ‘Rebuild and Renew America Now.’ See below for complete list of participating organizations and the campaign mission statement.
Chuck Loveless, Legislative Director, AFSCME: “Make no mistake: the Obama budget is real change – the change that Americans voted for in November. As we were during the economic recovery plan, AFSCME will be a leader in the fight to pass the Obama agenda. Our members make America happen. And America deserves nothing less.”
Khalid Pitts, Director of Political Accountability, SEIU: “This budget is critical to restarting this economy and will make investments towards long term growth and stability. And unlike some radio shock jock, people in this campaign and SEIU want to see this President and this country succeed in rebuilding and revitalizing the economy and this nation, from healthcare reform, to a fairer tax code, from energy independence, to educational reforms -- the principles behind this budget are designed to invest in its country, its people and to once again make us the shining city on the hill. We know this won’t be easy. There’s powerful corporate vested interests, and in fact, there’s entrenched Washington politicians that haven’t realized that this past November that change has come to America. SEIU intends to bring the full force of the union its 2.1 million members to bear to see that these principles become policies and programs that will help hundreds of millions of Americans.”
Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change: “While President Obama inherited the nation’s worst economic crisis in generations, and the largest deficit in history, his budget resets America’s priorities in historic fashion to rebuild and renew America for the challenges we face now and in the future. From returning fairness to our tax code, to taking control of the federal deficit, to making significant down payments on health care reform, an energy policy to reverse global climate change, and education, President Obama’s budget is not just a list of line items or plusses and minuses – it is the blueprint for transformational change which Americans voted for in November. This campaign will spend the resources necessary and conduct the activity required to overcome the forces of opposition who want to maintain the status quo for their own private benefit instead of doing what’s in the public interest.”
Alan Charney, USAction program director: “This morning, over 40 national organizations joined together in a campaign to promote and pass the President’s budget. We believe that this budget is a blueprint for change that Americans voted for last November. We are mobilizing millions of our members, talking to our neighbors and co-workers and marshalling our resources for the battle ahead. It’s time to rebuild and renew America now.”
Bertha Lewis, ACORN CEO and Chief Organizer: "ACORN applauds the choices President Obama has made in his first budget. Not only has he chosen to treat the American people as adults by delivering a budget free of gimmicks and based on realistic assumptions, but he has emphasized long-term investments, rather than short-term fixes based on political expediency. This budget shows a real commitment to the programs that matter most to low- and moderate-income families including true healthcare reform, increased funding for important programs like LIHEAP and CDBG, and an investment in our children's future through Title I and Head Start. ACORN members plan to work hard to pass this progressive and responsible budget."
Anna Aurilio, Director, Washington DC Office, Environment America: “We know that we can no longer afford the failed economic policies of the past, and we can no longer afford the failed energy and environmental policies that exacerbate the problem. From an environmental perspective this budget is of enormous significance. It restarts the clock on critical investments in clean water and toxic waste cleanup, and it is the starting pistol in moving legislation to fight global warming.”
Tiernan Sittenfeld, Legislative Director for the League of Conservation Voters: “As a blueprint for our energy future, President Obama’s budget is the most forward-thinking budget we’ve ever seen. It eliminates unfair tax loopholes and subsidies to Big Oil, and it anticipates hundreds of billions of dollars in income from a cap on global warming pollution and invests $150 billion in further investment in clean, renewable energy. The League of Conservation Voters will stand with the President by working to pass this budget and reinvent the way America uses energy.”
Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center: “After years of neglect, the President’s budget increases investments in key supports for women and families. Equally importantly, it makes these investments in a fair and responsible way, by cutting subsidies to special interests and beginning to make corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. Charting this new course will not be easy, but we’re ready to work with the Administration, the Congress and our partners to get us there.”
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel: “Money is tight in nearly every American household, and it's reassuring that President Obama is focusing scarce resources on education. Investing in quality public schools will see the greatest return on taxpayer money, and strengthen the entire economy. Our public schools have been underfunded for far too long, and the president's budget reflects a renewed commitment to protecting the basic right of every student to attend a quality public school.”
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Rebuild and Renew America Now!
A statement to support and build upon President Obama’s budget priorities
President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget provides a visionary blueprint that turns away from the failed economic policies of the past and seeks to invest in our future by expanding opportunities for all. His budget commits major investments in health care reform, education, and clean energy, while restoring fairness to our tax system and reducing military expenditures over time in a responsible manner. It builds upon the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to protect Americans from the damaging impact of the recession and sows seeds of a sustainable prosperity.
We, the undersigned organizations, have joined in a campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now to support and build upon the President’s budget priorities. We strongly urge Congress to follow the priorities set forth in the President’s blueprint: “A New Era of Responsibility – Renewing America’s Promise” in developing its own Budget Resolution.
It is our firm belief that if these priorities are enacted, we will turn back the harsh trend of rising poverty, unemployment, hunger and homelessness. We can extend opportunity and security for families in all walks of life by expanding health care coverage, making college more affordable, supporting the financial and nutritional needs of low income families, expanding affordable housing, investing in a far-reaching policy that will develop clean sources of energy and protect the planet by reducing global warming pollution, and generate good jobs to rebuild our middle class.
These steps will set the federal budget on a responsible path – meeting the needs of families and making long-term investments in our nation’s future while gradually reducing the deficit. We call upon Congress to follow and build upon the President’s lead in crafting its Budget Resolution, recognizing that there is no time to waste in meeting the nation’s long-deferred needs.
ACORN
AFL-CIO
AFSCME
American Progressive Caucus Policy
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans United for Change
Campaign for America's Future
Campaign for College Affordability
Campaign for Fresh Air Clean Politics
Center for American Progress
Citizens for Tax Justice
Coalition on Human Needs
Community Action Partnership
Corporation for Enterprise Development
Environment America
Every Child Matters Education Fund
Food Research and Action Center
Health Care for America Now
League of Conservation Voters
MoveOn
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness
National Priorities Project
National Women's Law Center
NEA
NETWORK
People For the American Way
Public Education Network
RESULTS
Roosevelt Institution
SEIU
Sierra Club
The Arc of the United States
TrueMajority.org
United Cerebral Palsy
United States Student Association
USAction
US Public Interest Research Group
Wider Opportunities for Women
Women's Action for New Directions
Women’s Voices Women Vote
YWCA USA